Email experiments: filtering out external images

I filter emails with the word "unsubscribe" into a separate folder (label in Gmail). If you can unsubscribe from it, it's probably not critical. The vast majority of transactional emails (password resets, magic login links, 2fa codes) don't have that wording in the email body.

Related: GMail has an option to disable loading images by default. Which helps me escape tracker pixels and also know if a "human-like" email still has a tracking pixel or not.

Here's another trick someone should build in: email using emoji in the subject line is probably advertising. Sometimes from lists you like being subscribed on, but if the subject uses U+2757 (big red exclamation mark) then it's more likely "SALE ENDS TOMORROW" and less "Your order shipped!"

EDIT: HN apparently filters out that code point. Good on you.

Alternative: Run your own server so that you can have as many mailboxes/aliases as you want. Give each webiste, company, or even person a different alias. The moment you receive spam, revoke the alias, and optionally name and shame spammers.

Some email providers and postfix also allow the creation of dynamic aliases of the form [email protected].

OK, but who uses email anymore for personal communication?

At least for most people in my circle, family is using a social media platform or iMessages. And work is using Teams or Slack or whatever.

Work email is basically useless at this point. I'm completely drowning in various Teams chats created specifically for each "thread" of conversation, with just enough people to make it unique. Or inversely, created with too many people and all conversation is just lost to infinite scroll and walls of text.

I'd pine for a return to email. But no one uses it anymore. Only companies trying to get my attention and a few important forwards for tax receipts. I think email is dead.